Monday, June 29, 2009

Gail Storm died! Anyone out there old enough to remember watching My Little Margie? She was on during the same years as The Ann Southern Show, Superman, and Our Miss Brooks. She was 87. I was going to mention this later in my post, but for some reason I can't move the picture down further. So, Gail gets top billing.

This was the premise of the program: Gale Storm plays Margie Albright. Margie is nearly 30, not married, no job, lives at home, AND still getting an allowance! She spends her time whining about how little money she gets, scheming to find ways of making more money or helping her Dad out of a jam. All this usually gets her into a jam.

The news lately has been rather surprising and unexpected. Something's going on with June, or the moon or something. For one thing, it seems 50 is not a good age for survival during June. Only one day left - be careful out there.

Stop in for sentencing this month and you will get the book thrown at you (heh heh). Take a teeny trip to Argentina...oh...did I say Argentina? I mean Appalachia, to visit a uhm constituent (heh heh). And all heck - plus your e-mails - will break loose.

I turned off the TV "news" and spent some quality time with my orchids instead. The purple ones smell like berries, the white ones smell like pure heaven.

The little purplish petal in the center of this orchid rocks back and forth. An insect landing on it will be caught off balance and fall face first into the pollen. Something like the folks on those goofy Japanese obstacle course shows.

My beautiful yellow beta died Saturday, although he wasn't 50. Perhaps in beta years he was. This one is the new guy on the block - or rather in the tank. His name is Sam since he's a patriotic red white and blue for the 4th of July

My fried Amy brought me this rock. She picked it up during a vacation in Maine. It's a metamorphic rock, migmatite. Thanks Amy!

Friday, June 26, 2009

This is the fifth of five postcards I found that were written during WWII by Pvt. Burns to his wife. The card description reads "Reflected beauty in the waters of Miami Beach Florida." The scene appears to be an artificial and idealized water scape, which is really unnecessary considering that Miami, and all of Florida has many photo ops that do not require enhancing or retouching.

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The card is postmarked 3-PM, January 26, 1944, Miami, Florida.

The card reads:

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My dear Mrs. Burns.

I haven't time to write a letter again today as I am on K.P. again.

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How come I'm not getting any mail from you lately? Is everything allright?.

I forgot to number yesterday's letter again, so make this number 10..

If you can't write every day, at least send a card or something so that I know you are ok..

Don't forget,.

Love.

Me

U.S. Army Air Forces Poster

KP Duty

Pvt. Burns may not be getting letters simply because they haven't yet followed him to his new quarters in Downtown Miami. Imagine this time of waiting for news - no cell phones or computers!

He mentioned being on KP duty. The movies and cartoons usually show this as a punishment, but it was generally a rotational assignment just like guard duty and fire duty. KP duties could be anything from peeling potatoes to serving, setting up tables, washing dishes etc.

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A typical WWII wedding. No time for wedding plans or honeymoons. Just quick "I do's", a photograph or two and then goodbyes.

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WASP Pilots, WWII

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The Mister and I took another trip to the antique store in Tarpon Springs. We went through every Florida and New York postcard to see if we could come of with any more cards from Pvt. Burns. I especially wanted to be able to reassure everyone - including myself, that Pvt. Burns got his letters from his bride..

We found 3 cards! None answer this particular question, I'm afraid, but I'll share all three of them with you next week.

Friday, June 19, 2009

This lovely and colorful image of Bayfront Park in Miami is the fourth of 5 postcards I have that were written during WWII by Pvt. Burns, stationed with the Army Air Force in Miami, Florida, to his wife in Rochester, New York.

The description of the picture reads: Bayfront Park in all its tropical splendor adds to the Miami visitors comfort and relaxation. Here among the beautiful flowers and palms, concerts entertain visiting guests and inhabitants.

The veiw is of the park at Flagler Street which is named for Henry Flagler who had a huge impact on Florida

(Per Wikepedia)

Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was an American Tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and Rockefeller partner in Standard Oil. He was a key figure in the development of the eastern coast of Florida along the Atlantic Ocean and was founder of what became the Florida East Coast Railway. He is known as the father of Miami, Florida and also founded Palm Beach Florida.

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When looking back at Flagler's life after his death on May 20, 1913, George W. Perkins, of J.P. Morgan & Co., reflected, "But that any man could have the genius to see of what this wilderness of waterless sand and underbrush was capable and then have the nerve to build a railroad here, is more marvelous than similar development anywhere else in the world."

On February 24, 2006, a statue of Henry Flagler was unveiled in Key West near where the Over-Sea Railroad once terminated. Also, on July 28, 2006, a statue of Henry Flagler was unveiled on the southeast steps of Miami's Dade County Courthouse, appropriately located on Miami's Flagler Street, the thoroughfare that divides South and North Miami.

A modern view of Bayfront Park

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The postcard reads:

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My Dear Mrs. Burns

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Am Transfering down town today. Hold Mail 'till you hear from me

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Love

Me

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Jan 16, 1943

Based on the address of his next postcard, I know that Pvt. Burns was transferred to the Atlantic Towers Hotel in Miami Beach. Thousands of soldiers were quartered in Miami's hotels during WWII. The Army Air Force and other service branches paid $20.00 a month to house a service person in a hotel, far less than the going rate. However they kept the hotels filled to capacity during the war which was a benefit to the hoteliers.

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I could not find information about the Atlantic Towers Hotel which indicates that it either was demolished at some point or changed names.

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Several hotels served as hospitals for wounded servicemen and some were used for R&R for soldiers returning from overseas.

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Although I have not discovered anything specific about Pvt. Burn's training at the Technical Training School, , air crew needs resulted in the successful training of 43,000 bombardiers, 49,000 navigators, and 309,000 flexible gunners, many of whom also specialized in other aspects of air crew duties. 7,800 men qualified as B-29 flight engineers and 1,000 more as radar operators in night fighters, all of whom received commissions. Almost 1.4 million men received technical training as aircraft mechanics, electronics specialists, and other technicians.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Today's postcard is the third in a series of 5 that were written during WWII by Pvt. Burns, stationed in Miami, Florida, to his wife in Rochester New York.

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The picture on the colorful linen card is of the Grecian Dock on Indian Creek, Miami Beach (Dade County) Florida.

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Indian Creek is a partly natural and partly man-made waterway in the city of Miami Beach, Florida. It starts as a man-made canal where Biscayne Bay meets Lincoln Road, and runs along Dade Boulevard, forming the boundary between South Beach and the rest of the city.

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.The postmark is December 2oth, 1942 and reads:.

Dear Mrs. Burns -.

I received your 8 page letter to Fort Niagara so I guess I am caught up on mail from you except the last couple days..

Have to answer letter to Baby also C. H. Hall in Camillus (He sent me a dollar bill) So will write you a long one tomorrow (Sunday)..

Am sorry you had to give me hell for losing that dough at poker but I feel just as bad about it..

Lots of people are writing to me & it takes time to answer them..

So until tomorrow -.

Love.

Me.

Rot the R

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The missing 8 page letter is resolved here and his comments about the letter give us additional information.; Pvt. Burns was inducted into the Army at (New) Fort Niagara, New York. After basic training he was transferred to the Army Air Force Technical Training Center in Miami. The letter had to be rerouted to him and arrived several weeks after he did..

The site of his basic training, Fort Niagara, the oldest continuously occupied fort in North America. Occupation of the site began with the French, in 1678, the British 80 years later, and then the United States, 13 years after the American War of Independence..

The newer, post civil war, Fort Niagara was built adjacent to the old fort. It contained a thousand-yard rifle range, access to rail lines, and access to large industrial areas (Niagara Falls and Buffalo).

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Fort Niagara was used to train troops for the Spanish-American War and World War I, and during World War II as an induction center and later a POW camp for 1,200 German soldiers captured in North Africa.

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After WWII, the fort served as emergency housing for returning veterans. During the Korean War, the fort was used as for the headquarters for anti-aircraft artillery and later Nike missiles. The US Army officially deactivated Fort Niagara in 1963. Military presence on the site continues with the United States Coast Guard still operating at "The Bottoms" making Fort Niagara one of the longest continuously run military bases in the United States, 1726-present day.

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The first Women's Army Corps Depot in Miami, Florida

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Dade County collected scrap metal for the war effort. Aluminum, iron, bronze and tin for ships, tanks, bombs and planes.

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All available copper went to war too - the U.S. Mint produced zinc pennies.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Madge came into existence one afternoon spent with my sisters at an engagement party. An offhand remark, "nice wrap" I believe it was, turned into one of those add-on stories where each person continues adding information until you have a complete story - or as in our case - until you are laughing so hard you cannot continue on without a nap and a box of tissues.

We created Madge.

To the best of my recollection it is the late 1940's, and Madge, in her late 50's, works as a hat check girl at a popular Hollywood night club. She tends to wear navy blue or black dresses - rayon - with large polka dots. She keeps a lacy handkerchief tucked in her decollete and wears baby doll sling backs. Her red lips are outlined a bit, Lucille Ball style, her eyebrows have been plucked into non-existence and are filled in with reddish brown eyebrow pencil lines with a nice arch over the right eye. Her yellow blonde hair is in an up-sweep held together by an array of bobby pins. Madge is a bit overweight, but the tightly cinched belts on her dresses are a reminder (to her) of her once 19 inch waist. Did I mention Madge smokes non filtered Pall Malls? Her raspy voice is a result of 25 years of talking with a cigarette parked daintily in the side of her mouth..It's a busy night club, the Florentine Room, so when Madge talks, you can only hear her end of the conversation:

Hey Darlin, did you want your wrap?.Oh, you're waiting for.. ..who'd I see you come in with.... Johnny? Johnny Weise?.Yeah, that's what I thought. .You been seeing him long, Darlin?.Good.Can Madge here give you a little advice? Hey are you cryin' Darlin'?.What'd he do?.Oh, it's what he said..Here, use my handkerchief. Yeah, it's clean..Oh, scuse the ashes. Let me brush that off the counter..No, you don't have to tell me about Johnny. He comes in here all the time..Yeah, with pretty girls just like you. Treats them all just like you. Thinks if he gives you a good dinner he can say whatever he wants and show off in front of his low life friends..He said he does what? Johnny? Heh heh. Naw. He don't have a real job that I know of. He just does work on the side, but I'm not gonna get into that Darlin'. He catches wind that I've been talking about him he'll give me what for..He's gonna come out looking for you in a minute. Let me give you some advice. If you're as smart as you are pretty, you'll high tail it out of here, Darlin' and find some nice guy that treats you like a lady..Yeah, you don't have to tell me. I've seen a thousand of you come in here for a free meal with some guy that pretends he's a big shot. Say's he knows agents and writers. Well, they don't know anybody. They just know how to talk a good story and then they want you for dessert. Heh heh..

My best advice is you go back to the farm town in Iowa, or Oklahoma or Indiana and finish school and find yourself a nice life. You ain't gonna find it here, that's for sure..So what do ya say? Let Madge call a taxi for you. You slip out the back door..Johnny? Oh, let me handle him, Darlin. I'll tell him you're feeling a bit under the weather in the Ladies room..Sure, I'll call that taxi right now. You can wait out back. My Georgie is out there waiting in the car for me. He comes to pick me up every night. Doesn't want any of these wise guys messin' with me. He'll watch out for you. Got the ticket stub?

Friday, June 5, 2009

During my hitherto unexplained absences over the last few weeks, I 've been neglecting -among other things - my Saturday Salubrious Signs. In doing so, I have specifically neglected the Leos of the world, having covered every other sign. I'd apologize, but that might inhibit your need to feel ignored and unloved. So go ahead and wallow in it for a while, blame me, and then have some chocolate or something to make you feel better.

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Better yet, have a drink.

Your Real Leo Horoscope: Insecurities in your partnerships are brought to light now, and the best way to handle this is to understand that you need others instead of competing for the floor.

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Can you believe she blogged about all the other signs, but ignored Leo! I feel invisible!

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Leo will find this time of the lunar month an energy sapper, as they feel ignored or unnoticed. Trying to go it alone won't work just now. The spotlight is on other people for the time being, and it's best to let them shine. Concentrate on truly listening to those close to you, and on playing a supportive role..

Your Leo motto might be "What you see is what you get." You tend to live your life straightforwardly and with a flair for drama.

Leomoticons

In fact, many Leos are attracted to the theater, the performing arts and public relations, for you truly understand the importance of putting on a good presentation.

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you blaze gloriously through your life, remember to take time to acknowledge the feelings of those around you. If you forget, you could unconsciously hurt someone you love. But, if you remain aware of your impact, others can benefit from your presence..

o-LEO-lay-eee-hooo

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Hey, Babe, I'm a Leo. What's Your Sign?

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The Lion is considered the king of the jungle, and likewise you Leos have an air of royalty about you. Some Leos even have hair resembling the thick mane of the Lion.

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Your Get Real Horoscope: Plan on making an appointment at the beauty shop. A little spray, some conditioner, and a good hair technician will resolve that Leo the Lion hair issue so the rest of us signs will quit pointing and staring.

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Being ignored and invisible isn't so bad, just think of the stack of traffic tickets Taurus has to deal with because they insist on speeding - and in the spotlight -no less.

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The rest of us signs like the part about you Leos playing a supportive role. With half of us unemployed, perhaps we could all move in with you and you could bake us cakes and stuff.

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Your theatrics are duly noted. You share the sign with the likes of Madonna, Ben Afflec, Jennifer Lopez and Tom Cruise. Oh, and Donald Trump and Celine Dion for cryin' out loud. The rest of us understand you really can't help it. Just tone it down a bit and lose the tap shoes.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday, and welcome back to the 2nd of five postcards sent by Pvt. Burns, stationed with the Army Air Force in Miami Beach, to his wife in Rochester New York. As always, PFF is hosted by Marie at Voila! Vintage Postcards, so be sure and stop by to visit Marie

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The colorful and scenic linen card shows the 41st street bridge that crosses over to Indian Creek, the wealthiest municipality per capita, in the United States. Per Wikipedia:

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A unique characteristic of Indian Creek Island is the residents' apparent obsession with security. The village is unique among similar-sized communities in having its own State of Florida sworn police force including its own 24/7 armed boat patrol around the island. Not only does "the ICVPSD operate the only 24 hours (a) day, 7 days a week marine patrol unit and it is often the only waterborne police force available on Biscayne Bay" but also the sworn force of 14 officers compared with the 38 residents reported in the 2004 census figures might make Indian Creek Village the most protected and secure incorporated municipality in the United States..

Creek Village frequently makes real estate headlines with its record high sales. Crooner Julio Iglesias's home made news as being one of the 10 Most Expensive Homes in the South according to Forbes Magazine in 2006 at $28 million; a $15.5 million empty double lot sale in 2005; and other noteworthy listings.

.The island is also home to the ultra-exclusive Indian Creek County Club. In addition to one of the oldest private club houses in South Florida, the club's golf course is widely considered to be greater Miami's finest golf course and occupies the entire interior of the island with a few waterfront holes.

There is but one Florida and it calls to all nature loving people. Not only is it a playground for the leisure class, and a winter home for the wealthy, but it is a year round place in which to live, to work, and to rest.

1942 was not a year of rest. The USA entered WWII and like thousands of soldiers, Pvt. Burns came to Florida to learn how to fight the war.

The postmark is December 16, 1942.

Pvt. Burns writes:

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Dear Mrs. Burns.

Received your letter of Sunday, also package and contents. It don't seem much like Christmas. It is very nice. Just what I wanted and pills bandage etc. will come in mighty handy.

I am looking around for something for you but am having trouble finding anything. Merchandise is limited around here. However have one thing I made for you. It will look louzy on you but I know how you always wear those hidious pins etc. so you will like this.

Letter follows by air mail tomorrow. Your last letter arrived in just a day and 1/2. Write me the news that was in that 8 page letter. It got lost!

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Love,

Me again

Excerpts from Time Magazine, December 26, 1942:

It would be a Christmas unlike any the U.S. people had ever seen, and one they would long remember. There was hardly a person who had not sent a package, or at least a letter, to a man in uniform; hardly a thoughtful man or woman who would not wonder what it might be like to spend Christmas in a tank on the road to Bizerte or perched in a palm tree in New Guinea..

Christmas, 1942, was the time when trains were jammed and trees were scarce, when turkey was high and the eggnog bowl low. It was a time when, despite the opulence of gifts in many homes, the people sang with fervor, in a peculiar popular ditty, that they just wanted to keep what they had. It was a time when a young Navy wife in Seattle said: "Last Christmas I worried if my husband would come home from the office sober enough to trim the tree. This year I wonder if he'll come home from the Solomons—anytime.".

Following the US entering the war , the mobilization of war efforts were quick and effective with car makers and other manufacturers changing to production of weapons of war .

1941 Ford

Ford halted its car and truck lines on February 10, 1942 to begin war production, but not before a short run of 1942 cars was built. War rationing required auto makers to black out their chrome trim, and a Special Fordor model was produced with no chrome at all for military use. 1942-style Ford cars continued to be produced as military staff cars from March 1942 through summer 1945. A large number of 1942 (and 1941) cars held in dealer stocks by government edict, to be doled out to essential users during the conflict, were Fords. Some states titled cars by the year of sale, so it is possible to find 1943, 1944, and 1945 models by virtue of their registrations and titles..

The war also created a new breed of movies with war themes , and one of the most popular songs of all time,

"White Christmas" from Bing Crosby first appeared in the movie "Holiday Inn" just in time for Pvt. and Mrs. Burns' first Christmas apart.

Be sure and stop by next Friday for the next installment and answers to the question: What became of that 8 page letter?